Agitator for washing machines



May 17, 1932- G. M. GlBsQN AGITATOR FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed sept. 2S.192s SII/ 4 9 i Patented Mayi 17, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcEGEORGE M. GIBSON, OF PELLA, IOWA, .ASSIG-NOB TO WOODROW WASHING NACHICOMPANY, F BELLA, IOWA, A CORPORATION OF IOWA. v

AGITATOR FOR WASHING MACHINES Application led September 25, 1928. SerialNo. 308,151.

The object of my invention is to provide an agitator for washingmachines of simple durable and inexpensive construction, o that type'designed to be used in the bottom of a washing machine tub, and to beoscillated about a vertical axis, and to provide in connection therewithmeans whereby the tendency toward the' clothes gathering between theAbottom of the agitator and the tub m will be entirely eliminated; andfurther to rovide 'means whereby dirt and, other oreign substances vwillnot collect between the bottom of the agitator and the tub.

A further object is to rovide in that type w of agitators above descried improved means whereby the' agitator may be easily and quickldetached from its operating shaft.

A fiirther object is to provide improved means for packing the actuatingshaft to preim vent leaking?.

A further object is to provide an agitator of that type adapted tooscillate about a vertical axis and to be mounted in the bottom l of thetub, so constructed that the tendency lforythe clothes to gather andadhere to the central and top portion of the agitator willbejeli'minated. .Y I `My .invention consists inthe construction,arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, wherebythe objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully setforth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a plan view of I'nyimproved agitator showing the mannerl inwhich it is mounted in a washingmachine tub.

Figure 2 is'an inverted view of the agitator.v

Figure'3 is a detail sectional view of the agitator as mounted.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.45 The numeral 10 indicates a washing machine tub having side walls 11and a bottom 12. The central portion of the bottom 12 is provided withan opening 13, preferably located to one side of the center of said .30bottom, so that the agitator hereinafter del.

scribed may be mounted eccentrically within said tub.

Secured to the upper surface of the bottom 12 is an annular plate 14mounted concentrically with the opening 13. A bearing post 15 is mountedwithin the opening 13 and projects upwardly into the tub 10.

The bearing post 15 has al flangel at its lower end designed to restadjacent to the bottom surface of the bottom 12. Bolts 17 are providedfor locking the annular plate, the bottom 12 and the flange 16 together,by means of suitable nuts 18. Two of the bolts 17 project downwardlybeyond the nuts a considerable distance to support a plate 19 by meansof nuts 20.

The plate 19 and the post 15 are provided with bearing openings in whichis mounted a vertical shaft 21. The bottom end of the post 15 has arecess 22 in which is mounted fibrous packing material 23. A concaveplate 24 is slidably mounted on the shaft 21 and yieldably supportedagainst the under surface vof the packing 23 by means of a spring 25,which provides means whereby the packing on the shaft 21 is positivewithout applying a great deal' of pressure to the same. The lower end ofthe shaft 21 is preferably provided with a crank arm 26 by means ofwhich the shaft 21 is oscillatedy The upper end of the shaft 21 isprovided withy a screw threaded portion 27 on which is mounted a head 28designed to rest on the upper end `of the post 15. Said `head 28 isprovided with vertical ribs 29 and designed to enter grooves 30 in thehub portion 31 of the agitator 32. The hub 31 is preferably bell shapedwith its upper end of its exterior surface terminating in a triangularportion 33. The inner face of the portionl 33 is substantiallyv circularand provided with the said vgrooves30. The upper end of the opening isclosed to form a head plate .S4-through' which a screw 35 is passed andanchored in the 11pper end of the shaft 21.

This provides means for firmly fixing the agitator to the head 28. Saidagitator may be easily and quickly detached by removing the screw 35.

The `lower edges of the bell shaped wall 36 100 imr overhan the edge ofthe plate 14, so that an annu ar s ace 37 is provlded between theperiphery o the plate 14 and the bottom plate 12 and the lower edge ofsaid bell. The inner face of the bell shaped portion 36 is providedwith' inwardly extending fins 38, which are substantially triangular.The lower edges of the fins 38 are supported above the plate 14 a slightdistance. Openings 39 are provided in the wall of the bell 36 betweenthe fins 38 and substantially in horizontal alinement with the upperends of said fins.

The outer surface of the hub is provided with radial blades 40 and 41.The blade 41 is longer than the blades 40, and has its upper endterminating in a plane considerably above the upper nds of the blades40. The ends of all of tln .ilades project a considerable distancebeyond the lower edge of the bell 36. The agitator is so mounted thatthe blade 41 will be in a common plane with the pivot center of theagitator, and with the center of the tub, .at a time when the agitatoris in position midway between the two limits of its stroke.

It will be seen by reference to Figure 1 that the blade 41 is designedto operate in a space having a larger area than the space in which theblades 40 operate.

As the agitator is oscillated in a tub filled with water having itsupper surface above .the upper edges of the agitator blades, a whirlpoolwill be established in the upper surface of the water, substantially inthe center of the tub, to one side and abovethe center of the agitator,while, it will readily be seen, suction will be created by the agitatorblades at a point above the center of said agitator.

Furthermore, it will be seen that on account of the blade 41 beingconsiderably longer than the blades 40, a partial vacuum will be createdback of the outer end of the blade as it is being oscillated, whichforms a third whirlpool or suction point, which is oscillated about asecond suction point.

This provides means whereby the clothes within the water will be spreadand distributed quite evenly throughout the tub, and lodging andadhering of the clothes to the top of the agitator will be prevented.This result, however, is accomplished partially by locating the agitatorof of the center of the tub, which is fully disclosed and described inmy United States Letters Patent 1,782,684, dated November 25, 1930.

yIt will be seen further that as the agitator is oscillated, the waterwithin the bell 36 will also be oscillated and forced outwardly throughthe space 37, due to the centrifugal action ofthe water, the water beingdrawn through the opening 39.

This provides means for washing all dirt that may collect within thebell when the agitator is stationary, and further prevents the clothesfrom gathering between the lower edge of the bell and the bottom of thetub.

Furthermore, the tendency toward leaking around'the shaft is reduced onaccount of the partial vacuum created in the bell. The leak is usuallyworse at the time the shaft is being operated.

The nuts 20 provide means whereby tension may be increased on the spring25 at any time desired, to increase the pressure on the packing 23.

Thus it will be seen I have provided an agitator for washing machines ofsimple, durable and inexpensive construction, which may be operated inthe bottom of a tub without danger of the clothes gathering andcollecting between the lower edge of the agitator and the bottom of thetub,-and provided with means whereby the tendency of the clothes togather on the top portion of the agitator is greatly reduced.

I claim as my invention:

l. In combination, a horizontal support, ashaft projecting upwardlythrough said support and rotatively mounted to said bottom, the upperend of said shaft having a head provided with vertical ribs, asubstantially bell shaped agitator hub detachably secured to the upperend of said shaft and the upper end of said head, said hub beingprovided with vertical grooves to receive the vertical ribs of saidhead, means 'for detachably connecting said hub with said shaft theouter face of said hub having agitator blades, the inner face of saidhub being provided with inwardly extending fins, said hub havingopenings between said ns, and an annular plate on top of said horizontalsupport of such height and diameter that an annular space will beprovided between the periphery of said plate and the lower end of theinner face of said hub and between the lower edge of said hub and theupper face of said horizontal support.

2. In combination, a horizontal support having an opening, a postprojecting upwardly through said opening having a flange on its lowerend resting against the under surface of said support, an annular platearound said post and on the upper surface of said support, a shaftrotatively mounted in said support, a bell shaped hub mounted on theupper end of said shaft having its outer face provided with verticalupright blades and its inner face provided with inwardly projectingfins, openings in said hub and between said tins, said plate being ofless diameter than the innerjace of said hub and the lower edge of saidhub b( lg mounted a slight distance above said h- 'rizontal support.

3. In combination, a horizontal support having an opening, a postprojecting upwardly through said opening, having a flange on its lowerend resting against the under ioo surface of said support, an annularplate around said post and on the upper surface of said support, a shaftrotativel mounted in said support, a bell shaped hu mounted on the upperend of said shatt having its outer face provided with vertical uprightblades and its inner face provided withinwardly projecting fins,openings in said hub and between said iins, said plate bein of lessdiameter than the inner face of said a slight distance above saidhorizontal support,- the lower end of said post being provided with acavity, a packlng within said cavity, a yieldable plate under saidpacking,

yieldable means for supporting said plate,

and adjustable means for supporting said yieldable means.

4. In combination, a horizontal Support having an opening, a postprojecting upy wardly through said opening having a ange on its lowerend resting against the under surface of said support, an annular platearound said post and on-the upper surface of said support, a shaftrotatively mounted in said support, a hollow hub mounted on the upperend of said shaft having its outer face provided with agitator blades,the inner face ub and .the lower edge of said hub being mountedvclamping the last said parts together, said bolts also extending throughthe adjustable plate for supporting the yieldable means, and nuts foradjusting last said plate.

Des Moines, Iowa, Au st 6,1928.

GEOR E M. GIBSON.

of the lower edge .of said hub being mounted slightly 'above saidhorizontal support and outside of the periphery of said annularplate,the lower end of said post being provided with a cavity, a packingwithin said cavity, ayieldable plate under said packing, yieldable meansfor supporting said plate, and means for adjusting the tension of saidyieldable means.

5. In combination, a horizontal support having an opening, a postprojecting upwardly through said opening having a ange on its lower endresting against the under surface 'of said support, the lower end ofsaid post being provided with a cavity, a shaft rotatively mounted insaid post, a packing within said cavity and around said post, ayieldable plate under said packing, yieldable means for supporting saidplate, and means for adjusting the tension of said yieldablev means.

6. In a device of the class described, a horizontal .support having anopening, a

' post projecting upwardlyI through said opening having its lower endprovided with a flange supported against the under surface of saidsupport, an annular plate mount-

